Scholars at Risk - Protecting everyone’s freedom to think, question and share ideas

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Scholars at Risk - Protecting everyone’s freedom to think, question and share ideas

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Protecting scholars and the freedom to think, question and share ideas

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Detained for 100 days without proper medical care or due process

September 14, 2016 - Scholars at Risk (SAR) is gravely concerned over the detention of Dr. Homa Hoodfar, who was arrested 100 days ago and who has been denied access to proper medical care and due process.

Professor Hoodfar, a citizen of Canada, Ireland and Iran who is a professor of social anthropology at Concordia University in Canada, was arrested on June 6, 2016 apparently on grounds of “co-operating with a foreign state against the Islamic Republic of Iran.” This was preceded by a March 2016 raid on her apartment, during which authorities confiscated her computer, passport and cellphone, and arrested her. She was released shortly thereafter, but was barred from exiting the country. In late August, Professor Hoodfar’s family reported that her health had declined rapidly, likely in connection to denied access to proper medical treatment for Myasthenia Gravis, a rare neurological illness from which she suffers. SAR further understands that the judge overseeing Professor Hoodfar’s case has reportedly dismissed her lawyer, replacing him with a lawyer of his choosing.

[(SAR calls for letters, emails and faxes, respectfully urging the appropriate authorities to intervene to ensure Professor Hoodfar’s well-being while in custody, ensure that any charges or convictions related to her peaceful exercise of protected human rights are lifted, and that in the interim, her case is addressed in a manner consistent with internationally recognized standards of due process, fair trial and detention, in accordance with Iran’s obligations under international law.)]

Subject:
Your Letter:
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
c/o H.E. Mr. Gholamali Khoshroo
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations
Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations
622 Third Avenue, 34^th Floor
New York, NY 10017, USA

Cc: The Honorable Ayatollah Sadeqh Larijani, Head of the Judiciary; The Honorable Anna Segall, Director of the Office of International Standards and Legal Affairs, UNESCO; The Honorable Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; The Honorable Shahindokht Molaverdi, Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, Iran; The Honorable Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Canada; The Honorable John F. Kerry, United States Secretary of State; Scholars at Risk

Your Excellency:

I write with regard to the continued detention of Professor Homa Hoodfar, who is reportedly being held in Evin Prison. I respectfully urge you to reconsider any convictions related to Professor Hoodfar’s peaceful exercise of free speech and association and to ensure her well-being while in custody, in accordance with international human rights standards.

I understand from Scholars at Risk that Professor Hoodfar, a citizen of Canada, Ireland and Iran who is a professor of social anthropology at Concordia University in Canada, was arrested on June 6, 2016, reportedly on grounds of “co-operating with a foreign state against the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Her arrest followed over two months of interrogations by the authorities and an earlier arrest and raid on her apartment, during which authorities reportedly confiscated her computer, her passport and her cell phone. Professor Hoodfar’s family reported that she was hospitalized in late August due to her rapidly declining health, which is apparently connected to denied access to proper medical treatment for Myasthenia Gravis, a rare neurological illness from which she suffers. I further understand from SAR that the judge overseeing Professor Hoodfar’s case has reportedly dismissed her lawyer and replaced him with a lawyer of his choosing.

I welcome any additional information that may explain these events or clarify my understandings. Absent this, the arrest, detention and apparent ill-treatment of Professor Hoodfar suggest a troubling disregard for international standards of due process, fair trial and detention, as guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran has acceded.

I therefore respectfully urge you to intervene to ensure Professor Hoodfar’s well-being while in custody. I also urge you to ensure that any charges or convictions related to Professor. Hoodfar’s peaceful exercise of protected human rights are lifted, and that in the interim, her case is addressed in a manner consistent with internationally recognized standards of due process, fair trial and detention, in accordance with Iran’s obligations under international law.

I appreciate your attention to this important matter and look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

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Regarding Prof. Hoodfar’s lack of medical care & continued detention

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
c/o H.E. Mr. Gholamali Khoshroo
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations
Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations
622 Third Avenue, 34^th Floor
New York, NY 10017, USA

Cc: The Honorable Ayatollah Sadeqh Larijani, Head of the Judiciary; The Honorable Anna Segall, Director of the Office of International Standards and Legal Affairs, UNESCO; The Honorable Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; The Honorable Shahindokht Molaverdi, Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, Iran; The Honorable Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Canada; The Honorable John F. Kerry, United States Secretary of State; Scholars at Risk

Your Excellency:

I write with regard to the continued detention of Professor Homa Hoodfar, who is reportedly being held in Evin Prison. I respectfully urge you to reconsider any convictions related to Professor Hoodfar’s peaceful exercise of free speech and association and to ensure her well-being while in custody, in accordance with international human rights standards.

I understand from Scholars at Risk that Professor Hoodfar, a citizen of Canada, Ireland and Iran who is a professor of social anthropology at Concordia University in Canada, was arrested on June 6, 2016, reportedly on grounds of “co-operating with a foreign state against the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Her arrest followed over two months of interrogations by the authorities and an earlier arrest and raid on her apartment, during which authorities reportedly confiscated her computer, her passport and her cell phone. Professor Hoodfar’s family reported that she was hospitalized in late August due to her rapidly declining health, which is apparently connected to denied access to proper medical treatment for Myasthenia Gravis, a rare neurological illness from which she suffers. I further understand from SAR that the judge overseeing Professor Hoodfar’s case has reportedly dismissed her lawyer and replaced him with a lawyer of his choosing.

I welcome any additional information that may explain these events or clarify my understandings. Absent this, the arrest, detention and apparent ill-treatment of Professor Hoodfar suggest a troubling disregard for international standards of due process, fair trial and detention, as guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran has acceded.

I therefore respectfully urge you to intervene to ensure Professor Hoodfar’s well-being while in custody. I also urge you to ensure that any charges or convictions related to Professor. Hoodfar’s peaceful exercise of protected human rights are lifted, and that in the interim, her case is addressed in a manner consistent with internationally recognized standards of due process, fair trial and detention, in accordance with Iran’s obligations under international law.

I appreciate your attention to this important matter and look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

cc: The Honorable John F. Kerry
Secretary of State, United States of America
Fax:+1 (202) 647-172
cc: Scholars at Risk
Email:scholarsatrisk nyu.edu
Fax:+1 212-995-4402

cc: The Honorable Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Email:InfoDesk ohchr.org
Fax:41 22 -917- 9220

His Excellency Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran c/o H.E. Mr. Gholamali Khoshroo Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations
Email:iran un.int
Fax:1 212 867-7086

cc: The Honorable Ayatollah Sadeqh Larijani
Head of the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Email:info dadgostary-tehran.ir

cc: The Honorable Anna Segall
Director of the Office of International Standards and Legal Affairs, UNESCO
Fax:33(0)1 45 68 55

cc: The Honorable Shahindokht Molaverdi
Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, Iran
Email:info women.gov.ir

cc: The Honorable Stéphane Dion
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Canada
Email:stephane.dion international.gc.ca
Fax:+1 613-996-6562